Lately, I’ve been waging a losing battle with winter. The week before last, no matter what I did, I couldn’t shake the bone-deep chill that came with the polar vortex’s bitter cold and howling winds. We even had to shut off our upstairs water for days to keep the pipes from freezing. In New England, it’s easy to see winter as an adversary during times like these – until I remember that my house has been standing since 1862, the year the U.S. first started printing paper money.
It’s weathered far worse winters than anything we see today, which fills me with a kind of quiet gratitude. There’s something profound about how we’ve built systems to protect ourselves against nature’s extremes, even if those systems occasionally meet their match.
I’ll admit it: I’m over the cold, the dark days, and snow. But winter isn’t quite done with me, so I’m finding ways to thrive despite it. I’m pouring energy into creative projects, enjoying moments with my students and colleagues, pursuing new learning paths, embracing a bit of goofiness, and continuing to build my new site. Sometimes the best response to what we can’t control is to focus on what brings us alive.
My Picks
Here are some recent discoveries that caught my attention:
A brilliant, free, browser-based twist on Minesweeper that keeps pulling me back in despite (or because of?) my continued defeats. Instead of mines, you’re navigating around a dragon and monsters of varying strength, managing your health points and hunting for boosts. Watch out for the mimic! (h/t waxy)
This four-part HBO documentary about Memphis’s legendary Stax Records hit me hard. The way it captures the raw energy and innovation of Sam & Dave, Booker T. and the M.G.’s, Otis Redding, and Isaac Hayes feels like time travel to a musical revolution. Beyond the incredible music, the story of Stax’s rise and fall reveals so much about creativity, community, and the complexities of race and American culture. I couldn’t stop watching.
Every musician has those artists who shape their creative DNA - Marconi Union is one of mine. This English ambient group crafts these incredible sonic landscapes that I get lost in. I just discovered that they have a YouTube channel with a continuous mix of their work, perfect for deep focus or creative dreaming. I’ve had it playing in the background while writing this newsletter, and it creates a wonderful sense of space. (h/t Kottke)
Your Professional Decline is Coming (Much) Sooner Thank You Think
An Atlantic [paywall] article from 2019 by Arthur C. Brooks that explores how we frame and navigate professional decline. What makes this piece fascinating is how Brooks weaves together scientific data (professional peaks typically hit way earlier than we’d like to believe) with insights from Eastern philosophy to suggest a different model: deliberately transitioning from achievement-focused work to teaching, mentorship, and deeper purpose. It’s a refreshingly honest look at a reality we rarely discuss openly in our productivity-obsessed culture, and something that helped to change my own trajectory.
Recently Published
The site continues to grow, carrying threads of ideas that keep weaving into unexpected patterns:
I’ve been fascinated by the story of Arthur Watkins, who spent his life preserving wheat varieties that others deemed worthless - varieties that might now help us adapt to climate change. It sparked some deep thinking about what we choose to preserve, both personally and as a society. While I tend to minimize possessions these days, Watkins’ story makes me wonder about the hidden value in what we leave behind.
Building My Corner of the Small Web
There’s something magical about the early days of the web, when people created spaces that were completely bonkers and wonderfully themselves. While most of the internet has become relentlessly commercialized, I’m trying to recapture some of that spirit here - no analytics, no optimization, just authentic exploration and unexpected connections. It’s an experiment in choosing joy over growth, and seeing what emerges when we create space for genuine expression.
In the Groove
I’ve been deep in the weeds of music production lately - building systems, crafting structures, and mapping out strategies for future tracks and performances. It’s gotten so complex that I’m starting to suspect I might be using all this planning as a clever way to avoid actually making music. Since releasing my last album, I’ve spent countless hours thinking about music and starting various projects, but nothing has made it to the finish line.
While I’m enjoying this planning phase, I’m realizing that simplicity might be the key to getting back into actual creation. Sometimes our elaborate systems become their own kind of resistance. Time to set aside the strategies and just make some tracks again. I’m actually getting excited about returning to the basics.
Until Next Time
As we navigate February’s shorter days, I’m excited to keep exploring what this site and newsletter can become. While there’s so much I want to do here, I’m reminding myself to establish foundations before rushing into changes. It all comes back to keeping things simple and staying centered in the joy of creation - whether that’s music, writing, or building this digital space.
Wherever you are in your own journey - whether you’re weathering winter’s last stand, pursuing creative dreams, or simply making it through each day - I hope you find moments of warmth and possibility. Here’s to growing our little corners of the world, one step at a time.